Category: Press

International Symposium on Algal Biomass brings together industry leaders from US, Japan and around the globe

TOKYO (September 4, 2013) –The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, and the Algae Industry Incubation Consortium, Japan (AIIC), a group working to commercialize algae biofuels in Japan, announced today a cooperative effort to share algae industry best practices and expertise that is commencing at the International Symposium on Algal Biomass being held September 5-6 at the Nomura Conference Plaza Nihonbashi in Tokyo, Japan.

The AIIC contacted ABO for assistance in bringing together global algae expertise as part of the government of Japan’s efforts to diversify the country’s energy base. ABO’s membership includes some of the most sophisticated algae companies in the world, and the US has become the global leader in the industry thanks to the cooperative efforts of entrepreneurs, scientists and several successful public-private partnerships that are making commercial algae production a reality.

“ABO and its members are honored to help the AIIC assemble an international community of experts to share knowledge about algae’s potential as a renewable source of energy,” said Mary Rosenthal, ABO’s executive director. “The high yields of algae and the ability to grow in saltwater with minimal impacts on agricultural land make algae-derived biofuels and other products attractive for any nation interested in sustainable sources of energy.”

ABO assisted the AIIC by facilitating contacts with global algae industry leaders, federal agencies and the research community. Some of the US-based algae industry experts that will be presenting at the symposium include:

• Mark Allen, VP of Integrated Carbon Solutions at Accelergy Corporation
• Craig Behnke, Senior Director of Cultivation, Sapphire Energy, Inc.
• Christopher Cassidy of the US Department of Agriculture
• Daniel Fishman of the Bioenergy Technologies Office at the US Department of Energy
• Stephen Mayfield, Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology at the University of California, San Diego
• Philip Pienkos, Applied Science Principal Group Manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Joelle Simonpietri of the US Pacific Command
• Emilie Slaby, Market Manager of Natural and Organic Protein Products at The Scoular Company
• Fred Tennant, Director of Business Development at Heliae Development, LLC
• Joseph Zwillinger, Manager of Business Development at Solazyme, Inc.

“The AIIC is grateful for the cooperation of the Algae Biomass Organization and the international algae community,” said Isao Inouye of the University of Tsukuba and Board Chairman of AIIC. “Japan’s energy goals and technical expertise can play a positive role in accelerating the commercialization of algae cultivation technologies that can provide sustainable fuels, chemicals and other products. We are looking forward to a productive partnership.”

A full description of the event and current agenda can be found at: https://algae-consortium.jp/isab2013/

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.

Algae Biomass Summit Showcases Innovation in Algae Engineering
Engineering and Analysis track features groundbreaking research in all aspects of algae production

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 14, 2013) — The Engineering and Analysis track of the 7th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida, September 30-October 3 will highlight a wide range of new technologies and scientific breakthroughs in algae production systems. Through more than 30 presentations, leading scientists, researchers, and industry innovators will discuss papers and offer presentations on the new methods for analyzing and producing algae-based products such as fuels, animal feed, nutritional products, bioplastics and chemicals. Early bird registration discounts end August 19. Registration information is available at: http://algaebiomasssummit.org/ema/DisplayPage.aspx?pageId=Registration___Rates.

“Groundbreaking research and best practices from around the industry will be presented at this year’s summit, highlighting the continuing innovation and new approaches to commercialize algae-based products,” said Ron Chance, Senior Scientific Advisor, Physical Sciences at Algenol and Chair of the Summit’s Engineering and Analysis track. “These presentations will showcase the key breakthroughs in production methods, extraction processes and cultivation techniques that can help bring sustainable, algae-based products to a wide range of industrial and consumer markets.”

Highlights from the Engineering and Analysis presentations include:

• Bounded Opportunities: Physical, Biological, Material and Economic Constraints on Photobioreactor Design
  Pete Lammers, Professor, New Mexico State University

• A Comparison of Two Cultivation Systems: Open Pond and Algae Raceway Integrated Design (ARID)
  James Richardson, Regents Professor & Senior Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M University

• Technical And Economic Aspects for Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae
  John Holladay, Manager, Biomass Sector, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

• Low Energy, Wet Solvent Extraction
  Jason Quinn, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University

The Engineering and Analysis track is one of three tracks, plus plenary sessions and posters, which comprise the agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit, the world’s largest conference focused on algae-based technologies. In total, there are expected to be more than 110 live presentations during the Summit.

The Summit comes at a time when industry is increasingly looking for new sources of alternative fuels, feed stocks, and consumer products. Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at: www.allaboutalgae.com.

The Algae Biomass Summit is produced by the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the US algae Industry. More information about the Summit, including early bird registration rates that expire August 19th, can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.

Contacts:
Nate Kommers, Scoville Public Relations for ABO
206-625-0075 x2, nate.kommers@scovillepr.com

Industry leaders to highlight pathways to commercial production of algae-derived fuel, feed and other valuable products

Orlando, FL (August 8, 2013) –The 7^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida, September 30-October 3 will showcase the rapid advances in the algae industry during the Innovation on the Road to Commercialization track of the world’s largest algae conference.  Through more than 30 presentations, algae industry professionals, global business leaders and government officials will inform audiences about the wide variety of commercialization paths for algae-based products such as fuels, animal feed, nutritional products, bioplastics and chemicals.

“An impressive array of companies and researchers will present at this year’s summit addressing innovation and advancements to commercialization across the value chain and markets for algae products,” said Mark Allen, Vice President of Integrated Carbon Solutions at Accelergy and Chair of the Summit’s Commercialization Track. “Their presentations promise to reveal how algae derived foods, fuels and products can continue to be offered to new customers. Increases in cultivation yields, harvesting techniques and innovative product design are bringing these alternative products to a wide spectrum of customers.”

Highlights from the Road to Commercialization presentations include:

• Tales from the Other Side: Crossing the Valley of Death in the Algae Industry
  Nick Donowitz, Director, Corporate Development, Heliae

• Shifting Focus From Fuels to Foods: How to Enter the Food, Feed, and Nutraceutical Markets
  Greg Sower, Manager, ENVIRON International Corp

• Enhancing the Economic Model of Algal Bio-Products
  Dil Vashi, Manager, Corporate Development, Solutions4CO2 Inc.

• A Place for Algal Biofuels Within the Energy-Water-Food Nexus
  Philip Pienkos, Principal Group Manager, National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

The Innovation on the Road to Commercialization track is one of three tracks, plus plenary sessions and posters, which comprise the agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit. In total, there are expected to be more than 110 live presentations during the Summit. The 2012 Algae Biomass Summit was attended by more than 800 stakeholders from more than 25 countries across the algae industry. Organizers are expecting an even larger turnout for this year’s event.

The Summit comes at a time when industry is increasingly looking for new sources of alternative fuels, feed stocks, and consumer products. Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO₂, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

The Algae Biomass Summit is produced by the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the US algae Industry. More information about the Summit, including early bird registration rates that expire August 19^th, can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.

Events give policymakers and others first-hand look at algae developers and the technologies that can provide new and renewable sources of fuel, food and feed

 Minneapolis MN (August 2, 2013) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, announced today the kick off of its second annual “Summer of Algae”, a national campaign sponsored by ABO and implemented by member companies, to raise awareness about the promise of commercial algae production to create jobs, domestic fuels, feed and food products, as well as plastics and biochemicals. The series of open-house style events and news announcements will give local and national officials an opportunity to experience the research, products and jobs being created by leading algae companies and research institutions. The campaign officially begins at a special event today at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences’ National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) in East Boothbay, Maine.

Additional events will take place throughout August and September culminating in the 7^thAnnual Algae Biomass Summit being held September 30-October 3 in Orlando, Florida.

The events feature a wide range of technologies and end products, and stretch from coast-to-coast, including: Algenol (Florida); Algix (Alabama); Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (Maine); Duke Energy (Kentucky); Matrix Genetics (Washington); Montana State University (Montana); Sapphire Energy (New Mexico and California); and the University of Arizona (Arizona).

“As members of Congress return to their districts, it’s a great time for ABO’s members to showcase their technologies and products, and how they are creating jobs, economic development and domestic supplies of sustainable fuel, food and feed from algae,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of ABO. “As concerns mount about water supplies, drought and high gas prices, the algae industry continues to deliver on its promise of a sustainable solution to fuel and chemicals, human health and animal nutrition.

The “Summer of Algae” campaign events range in size from small briefings with local officials to larger tours of laboratories and commercial facilities to announcements about new and exciting technologies. The events will focus on the local impact the industry has on jobs and the prospects for commercial-scale production of algae-derived products that include ‘drop-in’ fuels, feed, nutritional supplements, specialty chemicals, plastics, and more.

The “Summer of Algae” culminates in the 7^th annual Algae Biomass Summit, being held this year in Orlando, Florida September 30^th – October 3^rd. More than 800 algae producers, researchers, investors and suppliers are expected to convene for the world’s largest algae conference. Information about the Summit’s agenda and early-bird registration rates can be found at http://www.algaebiomasssummit.org/.

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.

Top Scientists from Around the World to Present Latest Breakthroughs

Orlando, FL (July 30, 2013) –The 7^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida, September 30-October 3 will showcase its Algal Biology and Research track with almost 30 presentations by leading research scientists and experts from universities, companies and several national laboratories. The sessions will inform technical audiences about the latest algae strains, innovative feed stocks and cultivation methods that are making possible the wide-scale commercial production of algae-based products.

“The breath of expertise demonstrated by this year’s Summit biology track speakers is truly outstanding,” said Dr. Al Darzins, R&D Director – Infrastructure Sector at the Gas Technology Institute and chair of the Summit’s Biology Track. “The breakout session topics are designed to engage Summit attendees in serious discussions regarding how biologists, working closely together with engineers, can help bring cost-effective algal-based products to the commercial marketplace.”

Highlights among the Biology and Research presentations include:

• Cultivation Ecology
  Robert McBride, Sapphire Energy Inc.
  Open Algae Pond Ecology

• Photosynthesis and CO2 Fixation
  Shaun Bailey, Director, Photosynthesis Research, Synthetic Genomics International
  Global Transcriptional Regulators of the Photo-Acclimation Response to Irradiance

• Algal Strain Development
  Matthew Saunders, Group Leader, Evolutionary Engineering, Sapphire Energy Inc.
  Microalgae Strain-Improvement by Evolutionary Engineering for Superior Biofuels Production

• Physiological Response to Cultivation Conditions
  Halil Berberoglu, University of Texas at Austin
  Physico-chemical Surface Properties of Algae and Cell-Surface Interactions

The Biology track is one of four tracks, plus plenary sessions and posters, which comprise the agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit. In total, there are expected to be more than 110 live presentations during the Summit. The 2012 Algae Biomass Summit was attended by more than 800 stakeholders from more than 25 countries across the algae industry. Organizers are expecting an even larger turnout for this year’s event.

The Summit comes at a time when industry is increasingly looking for new sources of alternative fuels, feed stocks, and consumer products. Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO₂, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

The Algae Biomass Summit is produced by the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the US algae Industry. More information about the Summit, including early bird registration rates that expire August 19^th, can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org.